The northwest Scotland landscape is spectacular in so many ways — the highlands mountains of course, but also the coast, and the lower elevation valleys and rivers. It is relatively “empty,” in the sense that you are often out of sight of signs of civilization, aside from the single-track road you might be driving. But empty as it is, it is not wilderness, and there are plenty of little hamlets and isolated homes and lodgings.
Continue reading Rural Stone Buildings at Loch Stack
We passed this cemetery along a drive to the remote coastal village of Elgol on the southeast coast of the Isle of Skye. While parts of Skye are very busy and popular with tourists, there weren’t many people along this remote single-track road where there aren’t really any “tourist icon” sites. It was just lovely Scottish countryside —broad valleys, lakes, and some impressive mountains.
Continue reading Cill Chriosd Burial Ground
This scene on the western Scotland coast not far from Skye was a pleasant surprise. We were on a long drive to the village of Applecross, and our route had taken us through a lot of typical country — rugged coastal areas, broad valleys, high peaks with a dusting of new snow. But out here a lot of the country seemed rocky and rough with few trees. But as we came to a bridge over the River Applecross, suddenly everything was green, the broom flowers were yellow, and there were spring-green trees.
Continue reading Spring Trees, Flowers, and Meadow, Applecross
Our May visit to Aberdeen, Scotland marked a transition on our trip. We had just completed a week-plus driving tour of Northwest Scotland, where we spent a lot of time in rural and wild areas. After returning our rental car in Inverness, we went straight to the station and boarded a train to Aberdeen, where we planned a quiet stop before heading on to Ireland. Why Aberdeen? Patty had visited the city decades ago when she went to the UK for an international orchestra festival. She wanted to return and see what she might remember of Aberdeen.
Continue reading Max Headroom 14 Feet